147 SONGS AND JOY


    ARIEL’S POV


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    “So now you’re trying to tell me that it was all an act? You falling on the ground, shaking, and all that? It


    was all nned with the doctors and nurses?” I asked Luke after he had brought the whole thing out to


    me. I couldn’t believe my ears. But it shouldn’t be surprising, since this man was a psycho.


    “Yes, it was an act,” Luke replied, smiling at me.


    I was still trying to process the whole thing. “But why, huh? You almost gave me a heart attack you mad


    man!” I wanted to hit his chest but he seized both of my hands.


    “Calm down, will you?”


    “Calm down? You’re telling me to calm down now, when you almost gave me a heart attack?”


    Luke sighed, rolling his eyes. “You don’t have to keep on saying heart attack.‘


    “Yeah right. So this was what you went to do when you left the hospital, right?” I crossed my arms,


    raising an eyebrow.


    He nodded, and I exhaled deeply that very moment. “But I still went to take some fresh air.”


    “Of course you did.”


    “Why are you getting so upset now? Didn’t you love the music?” He gestured towards the musicians


    standing behind him.


    “Yes, I do love the music.”


    “Put on a big smile then,” he spoke immediately. “And I think it’s time to go home.”


    “Time to go home? Hold on, mister. You haven’t fully recovered yet. The wound’s a deep one. The


    nurse clearly told you that.”


    “And it was this same nurse that I nned the whole thing with. Well, she was just part of the act.”


    “Oh my god,” I spoke underneath my breath, turning my face away.


    Andre entered the room, walking past the singers who were standing nigh to the door. Elizabeth moyed


    behind him, and I was really happy to see the both of them. “Andre,” I blurted, smiling delightfully as I


    moved towards him. We hugged each


    ザビーカー


    other, a nice feeling right here.


    “So, what’s going on? Why are there a lot of people around here?” Andre asked, looking at everyone in


    the room.


    “Old western style! I love it. These are the type of songs I love to hear!” Elizabeth eximed.


    Andre nced at her. “Mom, you haven’t even heard the songs.”


    “Yeah, but I’m about to hear it now,” she replied. “Hit those guitars, boys.” The musicians turned to


    Luke, an expression that needed his permission. Heughed silently and nodded, that was when they


    began to string their guitars, singing and bringing the melody back in the room. Elizabeth danced to


    their tune. Andre took his eyes off them, giving me his attention once again. “I know you spent the night


    at the hospital,” he told me inaudibly.


    Iughed a little bit. “Yeah I did.”


    “It’s pretty clear. And it seems like your husband’s all good now.”


    We both turned to Luke who was smiling and dancing with the singers as they continued their


    wonderful song. Elizabeth was also moving to the rhythm, extremely joyful, and she was singing to the


    song.


    As for Luke, I hadn’t seem him happy like this before, to the point that he was even dancing. It was


    something I imagined to witness all those years. But I never saw, or maybe I did, and I couldn’t recall.


    But even so, he was never this joyful when I was present with him. When we were together during our


    marriage. So, even when he danced, it was definitely not with me, not for me, not by my side. “He’s


    really a strong man, you know,” Andre spoke softly, as we still had our eyes on Luke. “Taking that


    gunshot, and the pain from his mother. It’s not easy. But there he is, dancing and smiling like nothing


    ever happened.”


    “Yeah,” I spoke inaudibly, nodding slowly. I turned to Andre after that. “There’s something I got to ask.”


    “And what is that?”


    “You mentioned somethingst night, while we were in that warehouse.”


    “Oh, care to tell me what that is?”


    “Have you ever lost someone close to you?”


    Andre looked at me for a second. “Why are you asking?”


    “I’m asking because of what you said, when Luke talked about the pain of losing


    someone.


    Andre made a confused face, looking upwards. “What did I say?”


    “I know you remember. It was justst night. Those scenes are still stuck in your head.”


    “How are you so sure about that?”


    “I asked you a question. Aren’t you going to give me an answer?”


    He sighed. “Look, Ariel. I don’t want to talk about it.”


    “So you did lose someone close to you.”


    “Ariel, stop,” Anre told me, and took another deep breath. “Let’s not talk about this, okay? I’m d


    you’re alright.” He walked from me.


    I just watched him, also scrutinizing everyone in the room. I was curious about this though. But you


    know what they say; curiosity kills the cat.


    “Come on,e join the crew. Dance with us.” Elizabeth stirred to me, beaming, and she dragged me


    along. The moment was really beautiful. And I hoped for more times like this. But you know, nothing


    lasts forever.


    ****


    MASON’S POV


    I was sitting on the couch, controller in hand, eyes glued to the TV screen. Harriet was sitting next to


    me, her own controller in hand, equally invested in the game. We had been ying for minutes, taking


    turns and trying to beat each other’s high scores.


    She was really fun to chat with. I liked her. We had been talking about so many things, till we reached


    this point. And it was as if we had been friends for years. Honestly, I wasn’t supposed to be this friendly


    with anyone, caused my mood changed ever since I lost Sofie. But this woman really brought that side


    again. And now I had to realize the fun I had been missing all these years.


    “Ha! Take that, Harriet!” I eximed as my character scored a goal in the virtual ser game we’re


    ying


    “Nice one, Mason. But I’ll get you back,” she retorted.


    I focused on the screen, trying to defend my goal as Harriet’s character made a daring move. She was


    good at this game, I’d give her that. But I was definitely not going to let her win this round.


    “Come on Show me what you got,” Harriet brought out, a smirk ying on her lips.


    I scoffed. “Oh, you’ll see. Just wait.”


    “Time’s up!” I yelled as the final buzzer goes off.


    I looked at the score and it was really fucked up. Harriet beat me by just a few points. She had a grin


    on her face, clearly pleased with her victory.


    “Looks like I win, Mason,” she said smugly.


    I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my disappointment. “Yeah, yeah. Lucky shot.”


    Sheughed and yfully nudged me, “Oh,e on. Admit it, I’m just better at this game than you.”


    I sighed. “Fine, fine. You win this one. But I’ll get you next time.”


    “Wanna go for another round?” She smirked. And then the door bell rang.


    I went to open the door, and I was greeted by the cops. A man and woman, both putting on their


    uniforms. Their jackets actually.


    “Morning sir. Can we pleasee in?”


    I made a confused expression. “Why exactly?”


    148 SUSPECT